Tailings refer to the waste material left after the extraction of valuable minerals from rocks and ores. There are several synonyms for this word, including mine waste, overburden, gangue, and spoil. Mine waste typically refers to the waste generated during mining operations, including rock debris, soil, and other materials that are excavated alongside the minerals. Overburden refers to the layer of rocks and soil that covers the mineral deposit and has to be removed during mining. Gangue is the term for the non-valuable minerals that are extracted with the valuable minerals. Spoil is the material that is discarded during mining and can be used for land reclamation or landfill.